FORMER PE teacher Jane Powell is heading off to India today (Friday) as the highest qualified woman in the world of cricket coaching.

Jane, of Alicante Close, Malvern, was a PE teacher at The Chase for 20 years and left the school last summer as head of PE.

She has represented England both as a player and coach at hockey and cricket over a period a 30 years and has just completed her level IV cricket coach award, making her one of only 24 in the world and the first woman to achieve this award. She also has already achieved level IV hockey coaching.

She has worked with various England women's cricket squads between 1998-2003. Vastly experienced as a coach in overseas environments, Jane has recently returned from a coaching camp in Pune, in India, with the Maharastrha State women's teams.

Jane holds a degree in exercise physiology, has a diploma in sports psychology.

She has been awarded one of three scholarships as part of the Lord's Taverners 50th Anniversary Coaching Scheme which will be hosted by India.

As in 2002/03, the scholars will be involved in a range of coaching activity as well as conducting research and evaluation of player development and administrative structures.

There will be a particular emphasis on understanding spin bowling and how to play against spin bowling, which coaches then can develop as skills in our players.

Jane said: "I am the first woman to be selected as a Lord's Taverners coach scholar and leave for India on Friday (today) to work with the BCCI, the Indian men's association, and we will probably have a few Vicar of Dibley moments when they recognise I am a woman."